Cookie Dough Spread (or Dip)

Think of cookie dough.  Think of peanut butter or your favorite nut butter.  Now mash the two together into one.

The result is the recipe.

So hopefully that image you came up with sounded pretty good.  If it didn't.... you imagined it wrong ;)

Becuase this Cookie dough Spread is absolutely delicious.  It's cookie dough minus the raw eggs and rock-in-your-stomach feeling.  And you can put it on things!

Things like...

1. Pretzels
2. Fruit
3. Cookies
4. Toast
5. Spoons
6. Fingers

Morale of the story?  You want this on your plate right now.  Like, right now.

(Right now.)

Cookie Dough Spread

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 cup chickpeas
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor.  Blend until completely combined, with no oat or chickpea lumps.  Add chocolate chips and blend quickly to combine.  Transfer mixture to jar or other serving container and store in fridge until you're ready to eat it.  Makes about 1 cup of dip.

You know, I've heard cookie dough is a wonderful Valentine's Day dessert….

Chocolate Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal Bars

You should probably get excited...

Because that up there is not dessert, it's breakfast.

If you don't know that chocolate makes breakfast ten billion times better then you seriously need to read this blog more.  'Cause, really, chocolate works wonders in the mornings.

But you know what works ever more wonders?  Chocolate with Cookie Dough.  That can guarantee a good day.

With that concept in mind, I created a breakfast above all other breakfasts:

A Chocolate Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal Bar!

They're super easy, super delicious, and, believe it or not, healthy.

Chocolate Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal Bars

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup special dark cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 banana, mashed (you can't really taste it)
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1 2/3 cup milk or water
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1-4 tbsp maple syrup, taste to find desired amount
• 1/2 cup Healthy Cookie Dough, broken into small pieces
• Optional: A couple handfuls of Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 380F.  In a large bowl, mix together first three ingredients.  In another bowl, mash banana.  Add applsauce, milk/water, vanilla, and maple syrup to bowl with banana.  Mix in cookie dough and chocolate chips (if using).  Pour mixture (it will be watery and thin) into a greased 8x8 pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes, until mixture is firm.  Cut into squares (I cut it into 16).  Bars will keep in fridge for a few days, and can be frozen as well for longer.

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Funfetti Baked Oatmeal Bars

Chocolate Cookie Dough

What do you get when you combine chocolate and cookie dough?

Only the most delicious brownie and cookie hybrid you've ever tasted.  I give you, Chocolate Cookie Dough!

I've been playing around with this idea for a while now.  At first it was a brownie batter dip, but that version ended up in the trash.  Time for a change of plans!

I decided to simply take my Healthy Cookie Dough recipe and make it chocolate.  It worked like charm!

This Chocolate Cookie Dough has the thick texture of cookie dough, but the chocolate taste of a brownie.  The taste is very similar to an unbaked version of these cookies minus the caramel and oats.

It's super good and disappeared within 24 hours at my house.

Chocolate Cookie Dough
(based on this recipe)

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 3 dates
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients but chocolate chips in the bowl of a food processor.  Blend until a thick mixture has formed.  Make sure there are no chickpea clumps.  This could take a bit, so keep blending until you get there.  Add chocolate chips and process until broken into small pieces.  Transfer cookie dough to desired serving dish and store in fridge.  Recipe makes about 1 1/4 cups.  See below for ideas on how to use it.

You can use this Chocolate Cookie Dough any way you would use the normal cookie dough.  Top cupcakes with it, make it into whoopie pie filling, eat it by the spoonful.  For a cute and fun dessert, you can roll a bit up into little balls like in the above picture.

Enjoy!

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Chocolate Banana Cake

(P.S. Life's getting pretty busy, so posts may get a bit less frequent.  Sorry about that!  I still plan on posting as much as possible though.)

Mousse Coated Cookie Dough Balls

I combined two of my favorite things to make these:

Cookie Dough and Chocolate Mousse

I hope those are some of your favorite things too.

I assume they will be though because, let's be honest, who doesn't like cookie dough and chocolate mousse?  Certainly not anyone I know!

Oh man, you are so going to love these.

Mousse Coated Cookie Dough Balls

• 3/4 - 1 cup Healthy Cookie Dough (I used the no food processor version)
• 90 grams silken tofu
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• pinch salt
• 1/2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp chocolate chips, melted

1. Roll Cookie Dough into small balls.  Set aside.
2. Combine all remaining ingredients in a blender (a small food processor may work as well).  Blend until completely smooth.
3. Transfer mixture in blender/mousse to a small bowl.  Dip cookie dough balls in until fully coated.
4. Place on a parchment paper line baking sheet.  Freeze until mousse has hardened.
5. Before serving, let thaw a couple minutes, or microwave quickly.  Recipe makes about 12 balls.

Sorry for such a quick post (and some pictures that definitely aren't my best).  There isn't much to say about these guys except that they're absolutely delicious.

And with the weather warming up, isn't it great to have some no-bake dessert ideas?  I definitely think so.  So just make these.  That is all.

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Pumpkin Chocolate Mousse Pie

Recipe ReDux - Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Frosting.

Is it just me or did April fly by?

I swear, it felt like I was reading the new Recipe ReDux theme just yesterday.  Maybe it's because this months theme was finally in my comfort zone again?

That's right, today we are back to desserts!  Thank god!

To quote the Recipe ReDux people, this months theme cantered around "The Cupcake Conundrum".  Our job was to to do one of the following: "If you think cupcakes never go out of style, show us your most delicious 'ReDux-ed' mini-cake creation. Or if you're in the camp that cupcakes have been a bit overdone, share your favorite hand-held dessert destined to be the next big trend"

Well, I don't know about you, but in my mind cupcakes never get old.  Especially when there's cookie dough involved!

This was by far the easiest Recipe ReDux theme yet.  As soon as I read the theme, I knew just what to do.

It was Cookie Dough Frosting time!

I made a simple chocolate cupcake in my mini muffin pan, and then used a big scoop of my Healthy Cookie Dough recipe to frost them.  Delicious!

If you want a cute + healthier dessert for a party, your family, or just for you to hog, this is your recipe!  They.  Are.  So.  Adorable!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Frosting
Cupcakes:

• 2  1/2 tbsp ground flax
• 7 1/2 tbsp water
• 2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup honey (note that these cupcakes are not super sweet, if you like things on the sweeter side, add a bit more honey and reduce milk accordingly)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 3 tbsp milk

Frosting:

• 3/4 - 1 cup Healthy Cookie Dough (you can make this up to 2 days ahead of time) (for vegan cupcakes make vegan version of cookie dough)

Preheat oven to 350F.  In a small bowl, mix together flax and water.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.  Add in applesauce, honey, vanilla, milk, and flax/water mixture.  Mix until a smooth batter forms.  Scoop batter into greased mini muffin tins and bake for 10 minutes.  Let cool before removing from pan and frosting with a big (around a heaping 1/2 tbsp) scoop of (premade) Healthy Cookie Dough.  Recipe makes 18-20 cupcakes.

The cupcake trend is so not over.  Now with these little guys around!

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Food Processor Chocolate Cupcakes

Cookie Dough Whoopie Pies

I just put Cookie Dough in your Whoopie Pie.  You can thank me later.

Question:

What do you do when you've made six batches of Cookie Dough and find that your family won't eat another spoonful?

Answer:

Eat it all yourself.  Make freakishly good Whoopie Pies so your family gets jealous and begs for a bite.

Yes, I really was faced with the situation above.  Though there's no doubt my family loves my Cookie Dough recipe, after having it literally five times in a row, they refused to eat another bite.

But then I turned the leftovers into a Whoopie Pie filling and, just like that, problem solved.

Whoopie Pies have always been some of my most successful recipes and this Cookie Dough variation is no exception.  Rich chocolate cake, with creamy cookie dough sandwiched in the middle.  Everyone in the house gobbled these up in less than one day.

They really are that good.

Cookie Dough Whoopie Pies
Cake:
• ¼ cup soy, almond, or low fat milk
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup spelt flour
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch salt
• ¼ cup applesauce
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ½ tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp water
Filling:
• about ½ cup Healthy Cookie Dough (can be made ahead of time)
• 2 ½ tbsp soy, almond, or low fat milk

Preheat oven to 350F.  Mix together ¼ cup milk and vinegar in a small bowl.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients for cake.  Add milk mixture, applesauce, vanilla, maple syrup, and water, and mix again until a smooth batter forms.  Use a teaspoon measure to drop circles of batter onto a parchment paper or Silpat lined baking sheet.  Bake for 6-7 minutes, until batter has set.  Place ingredients for filling in a bowl, and mix together until mixture is spreadable and smooth.  Spread a layer of Cookie Dough filling on top of each baked cake, and top with another cake.  Store whoopie pies in fridge.

Please believe me when I say that these are one of the best desserts I've ever made.  You don't want to miss out!

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Yogurt Filling

Healthy Cookie Dough!!

Why yes, that would be a gigantic bowl of cookie dough.  A gigantic bowl of healthy cookie dough to be exact.

I'll admit I shared a recipe pretty similar to this a couple days ago, but I just couldn't wait any longer to post this Cookie Dough.  It it way too good not to share!

This Healthy Cookie Dough is great for everyone.  No matter how you prefer to eat (vegan, gluten free, nut free, etc), I bet you can tweak the recipe you fit your style.  You can also make it without any special equipment, which is great because I know some of you don't have a fancy shmancy food processor or Vitamix.

I've tried the recipe in three ways so far, and every one has been a success!

So what do you need to make this?

If you stock your house at all like I do, you have every ingredient you need on hand already.  The recipe consists of rolled oats, applesauce, an egg white or milk, baking soda, vanilla, dates or sugar, turbinado sugar, chocolate chips, and chickpeas.  Yep, more chickpeas.

Like the Blondie Bites I shared earlier, I really wish I didn't have to tell you that.  I know some people get creeped out by weirdo ingredients, but I'm telling you, just give this Cookie Dough a chance!  All the chickpeas do is lend an awesome cookie dough texture, you can't taste them.

So now that that's settled, how about I mention how incredibly amazing it is that there's a way to eat raw cookie dough by the spoonful without any guilt whatsoever?  Cause I think it's pretty amazing.

I've made this recipe so much lately, and it's always gone super fast.  Everyone loves cookie dough, especially when it's this good for you.  And there may have been some cupcakes, whoopie pies, and mousse involved, but that's a story for another day.

Enjoy!

Healthy Cookie Dough (vegan, gluten free, nut free, low fat)

• 1 cup quick oats (regular oats will work if you have a food processor)
• 1 pasteurized egg white or 3 tbsp soy or almond milk (the egg white helps to lend a more cookie dough like taste, but it's fine to not use it)
• 2 tbsp applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained very well
• 2 tbsp turbinado or brown sugar
• 3 dates, pitted and broken into small pieces or 1-3 tbsp more sugar (taste for desired sweetness)
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips

If you have a food processor:

1. Place oats in food processor and process until broken into small pieces (it doesn't have to be a fine flour).  
2. Add remaining ingredients, except chocolate chips, and blend until completely combined, with no clumps of chickpeas.  Mixture will be very thick.  
3. Add chocolate chips to food processor and process a bit to incorporate, and break chocolate chips down into small pieces.
4. Scoop cookie dough into desired serving dish and store in fridge until serving time.  Serve with fruit, graham crackers, or roll cookie dough into balls.  You can also eat it as is by the spoonful.  Recipe makes about 1 1/4 cups.

If you don't have a food processor:

1. Place chickpeas in a large bowl.  Fork mash until all chickpeas are broken down and no large clumps remain
2. Add in oats (you must use quick oats or you will end up with an oatmeal cookie dough).  Mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Add remaining ingredients except chocolate chips and mix well until a cookie dough texture forms.  Note that if you decide to use dates, you may have to chop them into small pieces and mix them in.
4. Place chocolate chips in a plastic bag, and smash with a spoon/mallet/hammer (this is the best part!) until broken into small pieces.  Alternately, you can use mini chocolate chips.  Mix chips into cookie dough.
5. Scoop dough into desired serving dish and store in fridge until serving time.  Serve with everything mentioned in step #4 above.

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Date Caramel + Caramel Chocolate Cookies

Cookie Dough Eggs

Easter's coming!  You know what that means...

• Colorful Plastic Eggs Everywhere
• Easter Egg Hunts
• Chocolate Bunnies
• and A Whole Lot of Festive Candy!!!

Usually when it comes to Easter sweets, my absolute favorite is a big, fat chocolate bunny, but this year I decided to try my hand at creating a homemade treat.  And if there's one thing that beats pure chocolate in my book it's cookie dough... with chocolate chips!

These, my friends, are Cookie Dough Eggs.

Imagine a big scoop of raw chocolate chip cookie dough shaped as an egg.  Think about what it would be like to shovel it into your mouth.  Now, imagine that it's all totally guilt-free.

Ok, you can stop imagining now... Because these Cookie Dough Eggs are real!

Yes, it's true.  Those delicious treats you see above are big scoops of healthy cookie dough, polka dotted with chocolate chips, just begging to enter your mouth.  And a chocolate drizzel never hurts, either.

Did I mention they only take 5 minutes to make?  Tell me, what have you got to lose?

Cookie Dough Eggs

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup chickpeas
• 3 prunes (dates could be a possible substitution)
• 2 tbsp almond butter (another nut butter could work as well)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• optional: more chocolate, to melt and drizzle eggs with

Place oats in a food processor and process until broken into small pieces.  Add all remaining ingredients except chocolate chips and process again until all ingredients have benn well incorporated (no chickpea clumps!).  Mixture will look crumbly, but should hold together when you try to shape it.  Add chocolate chips and process one last time until chips are a bit broken up.  From mixture into egg shapes.  If desired, melt down some more chocolate and drizzle the eggs with it.  Recipe makes roughly 10 eggs, depending on size.

Enjoy!

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Mini Carrot Cake

Cookie Dough Hearts

Valentines day is coming.  It's in, like, 5 days.  Oh my god, I'm excited.

See, look.  I even got all festive and made heart shaped cookie dough bites to celebrate.  Never mind that I'm easily distracted when shaping cookie dough and it took be approximately 3.7 hours to make them all.  It was worth it.

Because aren't they just so cute?

I love Valentines Day because it's one of the only times ever when you're allowed to eat obsene amounts of chocolate and it's not even weird.  I mean, I could eat 4 cupcakes and no one would even look at me funny.  I wish everyday was Valentines Day.

But since that's not the case, I've gotta make that one dessert filled day of the year count.  Which is why I plan on having chocolate with every meal (and sometimes twice in one) on February 14.  I'm thinking cupcakes for breakfast and a glass of chocolate milk.  Lunch will be some sort of normal thing, followed by a cookie of course.  Dinner should be some sort of mole dish, or maybe a chocolate chili.  That's sounds good.

And dessert?

Well, it's gonne be one three of these delicious chocolate drizzled cookie dough hearts!

Cookie Dough Hearts (or Balls)

• 1 15-oz can chickpeas
• 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
• 4 prunes
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (or another nut butter)
• 1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (mini, of possible), plus more for melting

Rinse and drain chickpeas very well.  Then combine all ingredients in a food processor.  Blend until completely smooth.  Mix in 1/4 cup chocolate chips.  Dough will be a bit sticky, but do your best to form it into hearts, balls, or whatever other shape you like.  Place shapes on a plate or baking sheet, and then place in freezer until hard.  Once hard, remove from freezer for a chocolate drizzle.  Melt down some chocolate chips (about 1/4 cup should do) either on the stove or in the microwave.  With a fork, drizzle the chocolate over the cookie dough shapes.  Return to freezer.  To thaw the cookie dough shapes before eating, either leave out on the counter until soft, or microwave for 15-30 seconds.  Store lefotvers in the freezer.

What do you plan on making or eating this Valentines Day?

I'm thinking that, along with these hearts, I'll also make this cake and maybe try out a new recipe.  One thing I can say for sure is that there will be a lot of chocolate!

Here are some of the cookie dough balls :)

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Brownie Mix Cookies - great for Valentines Day as well